Lean manufacturing system implementation barriers: an interpretive structural modelling approach

Abstract

Organisations all over the world are seeking new templates for change to remain competitive in the face of globalisation. Lean manufacturing system (LMS) is a total business approach designed to identify and eliminate forms of waste in the process of producing goods, service or combination of both. Few factors (barriers) adversely affect the implementation of LMS. The objective of the paper is to develop a relationship among the identified barriers, selected through literature review and questionnaire survey by using the interpretive structural modelling (ISM) methodology. The paper also highlights the mutual influence of barriers over other barriers and identifies driving barriers (those barriers which aggravate other barriers) and dependent barriers (those barriers which are affected by other barriers). It is observed that lack of top management's commitment and lack of employee involvement is at the bottom of the ISM, indicating their strong driving power in the implementation of LMS.